How to register an off-plan project in Dubai: a 2026 guide for developers

Who can register an off-plan project?

Only a company registered as a real estate developer with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and its Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) can register an off-plan project. If you are a landowner developing for the first time, developer registration comes first.

The registration pathway, step by step

1. Confirm developer status and land. The plot must be owned by, or legally available to, the developer, and the title must be clean.
2. Secure planning and building approvals. Depending on location, approvals come from Dubai Municipality or a zone authority or master developer such as Trakhees or Nakheel.
3. Appoint the consultant and contractor. Their appointments form part of the project file and the consultant later certifies construction progress for escrow releases.
4. Open the project escrow account. Under Law No. 8 of 2007, buyer payments must go into a dedicated escrow account with an approved trustee bank.
5. Register the project with DLD/RERA. The full project file is submitted, queries are answered and a project number is issued.
6. Activate Oqood. The project is set up in Oqood, DLD’s interim register, so each off-plan sale can be recorded.
7. Obtain marketing permits. Advertising for the project needs a permit before campaigns go live.

Documents you should expect to prepare

Exact requirements change, so always confirm against current DLD guidance. A typical file includes:

• Trade licence and corporate documents of the developer
• Title deed or land documents and affection plan
• Approved drawings and building permit
• Consultant and contractor appointment agreements
• Project schedule and cost estimates
• Escrow account documents from the trustee bank

How long does it take?

Timelines depend mostly on file quality and the authority involved. Projects with complete, consistent documents move far faster than those that go back and forth with queries. Plan registration backwards from your launch date and leave a buffer for escrow bank processing.

Common mistakes

• Fixing a launch date before the escrow bank has confirmed its timeline.
• Inconsistent unit areas or numbering between drawings, permits and the sales inventory.
• Starting pre-launch marketing before permits are issued.

How Fifth Consultancy helps

We manage off-plan project registration end to end, from eligibility review to Oqood activation, with escrow and Oqood handled by the same team.